Paper box



@Eo Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. HOWE.

PAPER BOX.

Patented June 5,

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(No MC 1888. PAPER. BOXPatented June 51 4 038. NO. 1

miwiifm mmm 1 (No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. B. HOWE.

PAPER BOX.

Patented June 5, 1888-.

.um v@ @UQ [lf/0l '/lcfd.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WARREN B. HOWE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PAPER BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lettera Patent No. 384,038, dal-.ed June 5l 1888.

Application lled September 17, 1857. Serial No. 250.005.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, WARREN B. HoWE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Boxes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,

and exact description thereof, reference being In the box or package herein illust-rated as embodying the main feature of my invention the inner or stiff foundation orshell is provide-l at one or more of its corners with meeting edges so arranged that one margin of the adjacent side walls at the corner is flush with the outer surface of the adjacent wall, while the said adjacent wall is provided with an inwardly-bent ap extending beneath the wall having the flush edge. By'this construction the paris of the walls adjacent to the corners are stiened -or secured from being bent inwardly by external pressure applied against either wall. In case ofthe wall provided with the inwardly-turned flap pressure upon the 4marginal part ofsuch wall will come edgewise upon the flap, which will sustain the wall connected therewith by its resistance to edgewise flexure. The marginal part ofthe wall, which rests against the said iiap,will at the same time be sustained from being bent inwardly by its contact with the flap and the bent edge ofthe wall to which said flap is attached.

The feature of improvement above generally set forth isapplicable to several kinds or classes of boxes or packages commonly made-as, for instance, it may be applied to that class of packages embracingl what is known as a sawedin shell, consisting of an inner stiff portion or shell 7 having connected lside Walls provided with end flaps, which give forms of the package, but which are held in place solely by an exterior wrapping of paper. Said improvement is also applicable to that class of boxes in which the pieces composing the paper or straw-board foundation are cov- (No model.)

ered with, and secured together at their meeting edges by a layer of paper permanentlyglued or pasted thereon.

The invention also embraces a novel package for merchandise, consisting of au inner'V stiff part or shell having unattached end walls and covering sheets of paper secured over the saidshell, so as to hold the said ends in place, together with a novel blank for forming the body or main part of ashell or box foundation.

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the inner sti part or shell of a box or receptacle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective v iew of a box or package constructed with a shell like that shown in Fig. 1, and provided with a paper wrapper or covering, said Fig. 2 illustrating the process of opening the box. Fig. 3 is a view showing the four connected side walls of the shell in their collapsed or knockdown position. Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view of the meeting edges of the box-foundation shownin Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a view of the body of an open-topped box of that kind which is provided with a permanent paper cover pasted to the side walls of the box. Fig. 6 illustrates a package for merchandise constructed of a shell.

made like that shown in Fig. 1, andv having the bottom and sides connected by a paper covering-sheet. Fig. 7 ,shows the package illustrated in Fig. 6 alter the top cover has been placed thereon and secured by asecond covering-sheet. Fig. S shows the form of a blank for making the connected side walls shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The main part or bodyA of the shell or box foundation illustrated in Fig. 1 consists of four connected walls, AA A A, a bottom, B, and a top, C. The said body A is provided at the upper margin of two of its opposite side walls with flaps a a', which are bent or turned inwardly, while at its bottom margin it is provided with two similar laps, a a3. For the purpose of economizing stock in the construetion of thebody A, the flaps a a. at the top of the body are arranged to alternate with the flaps a2 a? at the bottom of the body; or, in other words, the flaps a a are formed upon IOO two opposite walls A A, while the lower flaps, a a, are formed upon the intermediate side walls A2 A. As far as the general construction of the shell or foundation is concerned, however, the iiaps may be located otherwise, as may be desired or preferred.

The bottom B is provided at two of its opposite sides or margins with inwardly-turned ilaps b b', and the top C is provided with similar aps, c c. The aps b b and c c are located at such distance apart that they will, when folded at right angles to the said bottom and top Band C, enter within and fit closely against the side Walls A A3 and Az A4 of the body A. In placing the -parts together the flaps a a and a.2 a belonging to the body are bent inwardly at right angles with the walls to which they are attached, and the aps b` b c c belonging to the bottom and top are then thrust into the body at the sides of the latter, which are without any Aflaps. In placing the bottom and top upon the box in this manner inward motion thereof past the planes of the top and bottom of the boxwill be resisted by contact of the side margins of the bottom and top with the flaps a a a a of the shell, which flaps-serve to rigidly support the top and bottom and prevent the margins thereof from being thrust farther into the shell.

I have herein shown the four walls A A2 As A4 of the body A as formed by a singlepiece or sheet of stiff paper or straw-board bent at right angles at the corners of the shell and connected at its free ends by a flap, a, upon the side wall A', which ap is glued, pasted, or otherwise secured against the inner surfaceof the adjacent side wall A. The said body, formed by four connected walls, may, however, consist of two or more pieces connected with each other by pasting or otherwise without departure from my invention.

One convenient means of holding or securing together the body A, bottom B, and top C of a shell madeas shown in Fig. lis illustrated in Fig. 2. As shown in said Fig. 2, D is a paper wrapping or covering placed over or around the shell after the latter has been filled with merchandise, and secured by folding or pasting the folded parts of the wrapper at opposits ends of the package, as clearly shown in said figure. f v

, A sti paper or straw-board shell, made as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has the important advantage that it may be taken apart and folded flat, so that it may be shipped in a compact or.

knockdown form, while at the same time it may be quickly set up or put together. In Fig. 3, 'for instance, I have shown the body A as being folded in a at shape by having its flaps a a a aa unbent or left in the same plane with the walls of the body and the body bent upon itself or flattened by flexing two oppo- .site corners thereof and straightening out the intermediate corners. By bending the body back into square form, turning the flaps inwardly, and then bending inwardly the flaps upon the bottom and top B and C, which flaps ticles of merchandise, the bottom will tirst be Y inserted, the shell filled, the flaps a. a then bent inwardly, the cover put in place, and the package'completed by the application of an outer covering or layer of paper.

In Fig. 4 I have shown in sectional view i Y the joints of the corners of the shell after the cover has been placed thereon. In this view it will be seen that tlapa of the wall A is bent inwardly at right angles to said wall, and that the marginal part 'of the cover C rests againstV the outer surface of said flap and extends outwardly flush with the external face of the wall A. The corner of the shell thus constructed is very rigid and capable of sustaining considerable pressure, such as may ocnr in placing or pasting the external wrapper or cover upon the package or in the transportation or use of the same-as, for instance, if the So Y' marginal part of the cover C is pressed iu-i Wardlyin the direction indicated by the arrow s, Fig. 4, any inward deflection or thrusting ing to thrust said wall inwardly in the direc-Y tion of the arrow 8', Fig. 4, will obviously be -resisted by the flap a, which, by reason of its position at right angles with the said wallA, n

will beincapable of flexure except under such pressure as will break away or tear the paper Y or board. It follows from the facts stated that 'a very strong and stable union between the top and sides of the shell maybe made in the manner described when there is no gluing or pasting of the joints at such point, and even when the shell is covered by a loose wrapping or covering of paper only. Y

It will of course .be -understood that the joints at all four margins of the top and bottom of thebox will be equally strong by reason of the presence of the flaps upon the body A at the two opposite sidesand upon thecover topand bottom of the box.

paper pasted over the exterior of the box wherein the rigid or straw-board body or foun` dation is made, substantially as before described, in` connection with the straw-board j shell shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3. In this instance the body or foundation of the box consists of four connected walls, E E' E E, con

sisting, as shown, of a single piece of strawboard or stiff paper united by a flap, e,'at one corner of the box. The two opposite walls are provided at their lower margins Y with inwardly-turned flaps e e.

F is the bottoml of the box, consisting of a piece of vstraw-board or stii paper the same `width as the box, and provided at its ends with Y Il5 B and C and at the other twosidcs both at the Y upwardly or inwardly turned apsff. These flaps vare adapted to enter between and rest against the walls E E, so as to allow the bottom F to come to bearing against the flaps e e'.

A straw-board or stiff-paper' foundation made as above described may be covered by a paper sheet, G, pasted over the sides and overlapping the bottom F, and a box thus made will be of sucient strength for all ordinary purposes without any other means of securing the bottom F to the sides. It is entirely obvious, for instance, that the bottom cannot b'e thrust or pushed inwardly without tearing or breaking the flaps c e' or the tlapsff' ol the bottom. In boxes of the kind illustrated as heretofore made it has been common to employ an extra strip of cloth or heavy paper to make the joints at all corners, excepting those where the paper or card-board is bent. By the employment of the construction in the sides and bottom above described and shown, however, a box having a superior degree of strength and rigidity may be produced without the use of any additional strips for strengtheniug the joints.

It is of course obvious that the bottom F of the box shown in Fig. 5 is held from being thrust downwardly or outwardly by the weight of the contents of the box by the paper covering alone, so that in a box carrying any considerable weight it may be found necessary to secure by paste, glue, or otherwise outer surfaces of the flaps c e and ff to the bottom F and sides E a, rcspeeti vel y or the usual binding-strips of cloth' or strong paper may be used. For boxes containing crackers or other large articles, however, the inwardly-turned flaps e e will form ledges which will take a considerable part of the weight of the contents of the box, and for such uses the' latter will be amply Strong without fastening t-he iiaps or binding in the manner described.

'1t will of course be understood that the box shown in Fig. 5 may be provided with an ordinary cover.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shc-wnfa package for merchandise, which consists of a shell like that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, together with an outer paper covering or sheet pasted thereon. As illustrated in said Figs. 6 and 7, the main part or body of the shell consists of four connected walls, H H HzH, provided with flaps at their upper and lower margins, of which only the upper ones, h h', appear in the drawings.

l is'the bottom ot' the shell, provided with opposite flaps at two of its sides, one of which appears at i, Fig. 6. After the bottom I has been inserted in the body of the shell in the manner before described in connection with Fig. 1, a paper covering, J, is pasted upon or over the exterior of the shell in such manner as to extend around t-hc shell from the flap h to the iiap h', and to cover the side wall H2, the bottom l, and the side H, said cover being preferably extended over the exterior faces of said flaps li h. At its side margins the cover J is preferably extended over and folded upon the side walls H n, as indicated at jj j. The

- cover J, when thus applied, securely holds the bottom in place with relation -to the four walls:

of thc body. The extension of the said cover J over the [laps h h renders the joint between the flaps and the side walls as much stronger and more rigid tha-n they otherwise would be, and thus enables said flaps to more strongly support the adjacent sidcmargins of the cover. When the said covering sheet is extended over the tiaps in the manner described, its ends are desi rably folded around and against the inner face of the flap, as clearly shown at j j in the drawings. The folding ot' the paper covering around theend of the tiaps in this manner may be quickly and economically performed, and does not require the employment of any inlplemcnt for cutting the same, inasmuch as the paper will be smoothly torn or cut by pressing it inwardly against and over the adjacent marginal part of the walls of the shell in a manner readily understood by an inspection of the drawings. After the cover J has been secured to the shell in the manner described the box will appear as shown in Fig. 6, and will be ready for thc insertion of the contents. After the box has been filled the flaps h h will be folded down and the cover K, Fig. 7, will be placed thereon, the flaps k of said cover being inserted inside of thc side walls H H3 in the manner beforedescribed, and clearly shown in Fig. 7. After the cover is in place a second covering-sheet of paper, L, is pasted around the package in such manner as to cover the walls H H'1 and the said cover K, and to overlap the walls H H", which were previously covered by the sheet J in the manner indicated at l l, Fig. 7. The paper sheets or coverings J L, applied in thc manner shown and above described, serve to cover all six sides of the box and to give a smooth and neat appearance thereto, while at the same time said sheets may be easily and quickly applied in a manner to allow the convenient insertion of the contents of the box after the bottom has been secured in place, and to firmly secure the top after the box has been filled and closed.

It has been hereinbefore stated that, for the purpose of economy in cutting of the stock,the ilaps upon vthe connected side walls of the shell or stiff foundation of the box may be desirably formed upon the said side'walls in alternation. The particular utility of this construction may be more readily seen by an exami nation of Fig. S, which illust-rates the form of blank which I prefer to employ and the method used by me in cutting the blanks. At thcnpper part of Said Fig. 8, M' is a blank which is shaped to constitute four connected side walls of the shell, together with the flaps thereon. At the lower part of said Fig. S is shown a paperstrip, N, across which extends a dotted line, n n, indicating a cut by which another and subsequent blank will be separated therefrom. m m, Fig. S, are projecting pieces forming two flaps. 1n m are projections upon the opposite side of the blank M,to form tlaps IIC at the opposite side of the blank. The dotted lines m in? m3 m3 indicate the line of the folds along which the flaps are bent inwardly. The blank will preferably be scored along these lines, to allow the ilaps to be readily bent or folded. m is the liap at the end of the blank, by which the opposite ends of the latter are connected together, the blank being bent along the dotted lilies mf m5, to givev a. rectangular form to the body of the box. The blank will also be preferably scored along said lines m5 m5.

In a blank made in the manner described a space or notch obviously comes opposite a Hap, m m or m.' m', at each side margin ot' the blank, and it lollows thata series ot` such blanks may be cut from a long strip of paper practically without waste, inasmuch as the cutting of thepaper along a line to form the projections or iiaps, as m. m', of one blank will also form the depressions or uotches'of the next blank. This construction is clearly shown in Fig. 8, wherein the cutting of the blank M from the strip N has left the end surface thereof in proper shape to forni the flaps of a succeeding blank. Blanks will be eut from astrip of paper by a suitable tool or cutter shaped to conform to the margin of the blank, such tool or.

cutter obviously forming a means whereby a great number of blanks exactly like each other in shape may be cut from a strip or sheet of paper or straw-board. Inasniuch as a blank for forming four connected sides of a box coustructed of a single sheet provided with flaps arranged upon opposite sides of the blank in the manner described is novel and has great advantage in point of economy of material, such blank is herein claimed as part ot` my invention.

The main feature of novelty, as far as the construction of a box or package is concerned, embraced in my invention, consists in a stiff paper or straw-board shell or body comprising four connected walls provided at one or both ends or margins with two flaps attached to op posilesides of the shell or body, combined with a separate cover or co\'crs,also provided with two opposite iiaps and adapted to be placed upon or engaged with the shell or body in the manner described. This construction is herein broadly claimed, as is also asimilar construe tion combined with an exterior wrapping or covering of paper. The particular i'orm of paper covering shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is also herein specilically claimed as part of my invention.

I do not desire to limit my invention as set forth in the appended second claim to a stil' paper or cardboard shell or body provided with a paper wrapper or covering, inasmuch as a complete and substantial box may be formed by the box-body provided with flaps, and covers also provided with flaps, placed together in the manner described, when the said liaps are secured to the sides and top and bottom or ends ot' the box by the direct application of paste or glue to the parts, or by string engages.

the application of cloth or paper binding-strips almg the joints of the box.

The box herein shown in Figs. 1 and Y provided with a novel device to facilitate the opening of the package when the latter is cov` ered by a paper wrapper.V

0, Figs. 1 and 2, is a string attached to theV Y Said stringn between the said flap. c and the side wall A' y Y ot the box,or is placed along the adjacent cor-Y ner of the box in such manner that its free end extends beyond or outside of the said box and Y through the external paper covering or wrap-l per, whatever may be .the fornrof the latter.V

The end of the string- O is arranged to extend outside of the wrapper, or is covered by a thinV part ofthe same, allowing itto be readily seen' and grasped, or by alabel holding the end inn i place in such manner that it may be easily torn ont or released from'contnement. By grasping the end of the string, which projects from the corner of the box at a point indicated.V at o, Fig. 2, the string may be drawn upwardly; i and outwardly, so as to tear the paper along Y the corner ofthe package from the point o to Y the point `o', after which, by pulling forcibly upward on the string, the ap and the adja- Y cent side ot' the cover C may be. drawn out,

and thus allow the easy removal of the entire Y cover. In lifting the corner of the cover by A the string O the paper will of course be torn along the edge from o' to o2, as clearly shownV in Fig. 2. The employmentof a string at-VV ico tached to the flap or coverV is obviously very desirable in a package of the character shown in Fig. 2, inasmuch as it enables the user to ascertain which is the removable side or cover, and thereby open the box without ditculty. The string 0, attached to one cornerof the cover C in the manner described, may be disposed about the corner of the package and beneath the paper sheet in such manner'as to tear open two or more corners of the packageas, for instance, it may be disposed along three sides or corners of the package, as indicated incv dotted lines o3 o" o3 of Figs. 1 and 2, in which case by pulling outwardlyupon the string the paper covering will first be torn from o to o, then along the corner from o* to o, after which by pulling upwardly upon the cover it will tear along the box-corner from o to o', and the cover will remain connected package at one side only.-

with the XVhen the arrangement of the opening-string i last referred to is used, the flap c at the end of Y x25 Y Y the lat-ter opposite the point at which the string O is attached to the iap e will be providedwith a notch, c, Fig. 1, with which said The said notch serves to hold' the string in place when'the cover is being torn from the corner o to the corner o', Fig.

2, and also enables the fiap c to be drawn or pulled outwardly in opening the coverl in the angosta4 v 5 same manner as is the ilap c by the use of the string when used as shown in full lines in Fig.

2. The iiap c is also shown in Fig. 1 as provided with a notch, c, which serves to conne the string at the corner o in placing. the

cover on the box.

It is obviously not essential that the opening-string should be tied or permanently secured to the cover-flap, inasmuch as it may be 1o caught in a notch like that shown atc inFig. 1, lfor instance, with practically the same resu t. Y

I claim as my inventionf 1. The combination, with a paper or board body consisting of four connected walls and provided with two oppositely-arranged in- 'wardly-bent flaps, of an end wall or cover provided at two opposite margins with inwardlybent flaps inserted within the shell or body, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a paper or board body consisting of four connectedwalls and provided with two oppositelyarranged inwardly-bent aps, of an end wall or cover provided with inwardly-bent flaps npon two ofv its opposite edges inserted within the said body, and a paper wrapper or covering applied over the exterior of the said body and end walls or covers, substantially 'as described.

3. The combination, with a paper or board body consisting of four connected walls provided with oppositely-arranged inwardly-bent flaps, of end walls or covers,also provided with flaps at their opposite side margins, and a 42,15 paper covering -for the same, consisting of a,

sheet, J, extending around three sides ofthe box or package, and a second sheet or covering,'L, extending around the other three sides of vthe box or package, substantially as described. 4o

4. The combination, with a paper or board body consisting of four connected walls having two oppositely-arranged inwardly-bent flaps, and a cover or end wall, also provided with flaps at two of its opposite side margins, of an opening-string engaged with one corner of the cover or end wall, and a paper wrapper orl exterior covering, substantially as described.

'5. :The combination, with a paper `1er board box-body consisting of four connected walls 5o having two oppositely-arranged inwardly-bent iiaps, and a cover or end wall, also provided with flaps at two of its opposite side margins, of an opening-string engaged with the flap at one corner of the cover or end wall, the flap at the opposite side of the cover or end wall being notched to receive said string, substantially as described.

6. A blank for box bodies or shells, consisting of a strip having parallel side edges and 6o provided with vtwo ilaps upon each side margin, the flaps upon one side margin being 1ocated at intermediate points with relation to the flaps upon the other side margin, substantially as described. y

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I aix my signaturein presence of l two witnesses.v

' `WARREN B. HOWE.

Witnesses:

' C.. CLARENGelQOf-E,

O..N. WILLIS. 

